Tugade denies ‘unpublicized’ trip to China

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday denied claims of outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg about an “unpublicized China trip” in June 2016.

“If it is true that Ambassador Goldberg said that, then the fabled American 'intelligence network' has miserably failed again," Tugade said in an emailed statement.

"Tsismis yan! Was never in Beijing in June! You can always examine my passport anytime," the Transportation chief emphasized.

In a television interview on Tuesday, Goldberg claimed he is aware that Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Tugade made a trip to China in June prior to President Rodrigo Duterte's four-day state visit to Beijing, which later on led to the increase of China’s investment and loan pledges to the Philippines. 

Cayetano has yet to comment on Goldberg's claims. — Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA News